Anya Bast - Witch Heart

She dipped her head and studied her jean-clad knee. "I was afraid to leave the life I knew, but a part of me did want to return with you that night."

"I thought so."

"Fear won," she finished, swallowing hard. "I missed the Earth I remembered, but I was afraid to leave Eudae."

He met her gaze in the rearview mirror. "And now here you are, despite your fear."

"Yes."

"Were you punished for helping me escape, Claire?"

That night was burned into her memory. She'd spent weeks nursing Thomas through the torture Rue had inflicted on him, weeks planning his escape. On the night her plans had come to fruition and she'd helped Thomas from his cell to the portal chamber, the Ytrayi had discovered her betrayal. There had been a battle, but she'd taught Thomas how to fight daaeman with his elemental earth magick and they'd fought their way down the corridors of Yrystrayi successfully.

She'd betrayed the Ytrayi out of allegiance to the aeamon, because she was one. She'd done it to show Rue she was not his, that he'd never broken her and shouldn't take her for granted. She'd done it to show the Ytrayi she could do it, to prove her strength to them. Finally, she'd done it in honor of the love Thomas and Isabelle shared.

"Yes, I was punished, but not badly." She reflected. "Well, it was bad enough. Rue hobbled me magickically for six months."

Thomas glanced at her in the mirror. "But they didn't hurt you? I was very concerned they'd hurt you physically."

She shook her head. "Rue would never allow me to come to harm, no matter how dire my crime." Claire paused. "Until now, anyway."

"You're valuable to Rue, aren't you?"

She shrugged a shoulder. "I'm a magickal oddity on Eudae. A diversion, an… entertainment for him."

"What, like a pet?" Adam growled beside her.

"No, I'm more than that. I'm a servant, his handmaiden, but Rue has some emotional attachment to me. I am his property, though."

Adam's arm tightened around her. "Not anymore you aren't."

The realization that she was now free hadn't registered until that moment. Lightness flared briefly in her chest right before the sentiment crashed straight to her toes.

She shook her head. "Rue will come for me." She paused and drew a breath. "I remain his property."

Theo spoke for the first time as he turned toward her. "We need to deal with the Atrika demons first. Then we'll think of how to handle your keeper." He bared his teeth briefly, making Claire think he probably already had some idea of what he wished to do with Rue. "But you're only property if you choose to be." He turned back around.

"The Atrika will come after me with a vengeance," said Claire. "They can scent me from a long distance because of the nature of my magick. They also freely use blood magick, unlike the Ytrayi. I don't know much about blood magick, but they may have access to a tracking spell."

Thomas glanced at her in the mirror. "That's why we're running. Right now. When we've put some distance between ourselves and these guys, we'll stop and regroup, figure out where to go from there."

"What? We?" Claire leaned forward. "No, Thomas. I will not allow you to become more involved in this than you already are. What about Isabelle? You need to protect her from the threat I've brought with me."

Adam snorted.

Thomas met her gaze in the mirror. "Protect Isabelle? Clearly, you've never met my wife. Isabelle knows how much we owe you, Claire. She'd skin me alive for not doing all I could to keep you safe."

Adam laid his hand flat against her back. The heat of his palm radiated through her shirt and into her skin. "It's not safe for you to go it alone."

She turned wild eyes toward him. "It's not safe for Isabelle! Or for anyone because of me."

"Because of Rue, not you, Claire." Thomas's hand tightened a degree on the steering wheel. "I've warned the Coven already. Those who are vulnerable to a possible attack have already left the building. Jack, Mira, and the baby, for example. I told Isabelle to go, too."

"Think she listened?" Adam's mouth curved in a smile.

Thomas glanced in the mirror. "You know Isabelle. Anyway, the Atrika are hunting Claire. They're not going to the Coven, so everyone there is safe. They're coming straight at us."

She flopped back against the seat. "Stop the car immediately. I'm getting out. I didn't save you on Eudae to send you back to Isabelle only to have you killed by an Atrika here."

"Claire," said Thomas in a steel-backed voice. "I'm not arguing with you about this."

She jerked her chin at Theo and Adam. "I suppose both of you have loved ones, too?"

Theo just stared straight ahead and said nothing. Adam looked down at his shoes. Neither of them answered.

"No?" She jerked her hand out. "Well, then, fine. These two are expendable. They can help me get free of the Atrika. You, Thomas, as head of the Coven most certainly are not expendable and shouldn't be anywhere near me right now."

Adam frowned. "Expendable? I'm not sure I—"

Claire leaned forward, gesturing. "I will not be responsible for putting your people's head mage in harm's way. I will not argue about that with you, Thomas."

"I actually agree with her," said Theo.

The car went silent. Seems that this one didn't speak often, but when he did, people listened.

Theo continued. "I believe what she's suggesting is a wise course of action. Adam and I can take her out of Chicago, away from the demons hunting her. You can go back and protect the Coven. They need your leadership now more than ever, Thomas."

"Exactly." Claire sat back with a huff of breath. She cared too much about Thomas to see him in danger's path now, and she wouldn't be the one to put him there.

Thomas's fingers tightened to whiteness on the steering wheel.

"I don't exactly think Theo and I are expendable." Adam shot her a glance laced with icicles. "But I have to say that Claire and Theo have a point. We don't need you anyway, boss. Theo and I are totally capable of making sure Claire stays safe."

Thomas glanced up into the rearview mirror at the phrase, we don V need you anyway, his lips compressing. "Against two Atrika demons?"

Adam leaned forward, a mischievous grin flashing over his mouth. "We all know you're a micromanager and a control freak. Everyone says you need to start trusting your people more. Now's the perfect opportunity."

"I do trust you and Theo." He glowered. "And I'm not a micromanager or a control freak."

The entire vehicle went silent. Beside her, Adam coughed.

"Don't forget the Duskoff," said Theo finally. "Don't ever forget about them. Who knows what's going on here exactly? Who knows whether they're involved or not? You need to stay at the Coven, Thomas. Let me and Adam handle the woman."

"Don't call me woman." Claire glared at the back of Theo's head. "I have a name."

Adam leaned close to her. "He has issues with things like normal social interaction."

Well, she did, too, but she still managed to remember people's names.

"Fuck," Thomas swore under his breath. Claire detected a note of defeat in his voice. "You take this car. You take my Coven ATM card. You withdraw a ton of cash and only use that for whatever you do. No credit cards. No paper trail. We don't know what kind of resources or Earth-savvy these demons have yet or whether or not the Duskoff is involved. Keep your head down. Hear me?"

"We hear you, Daddy," Adam answered.

"Head to the Twin Cities," Thomas added.

Adam raised his head. "To Jack's place in Minneapolis?"

Thomas shook his head. "No. To a heavily warded safe house in Saint Paul. For now. Until we figure out what's going on."